South Charlotte Today

Duke Energy created has a program that will allow residents and businesses to pay an additional monthly fee to renewable energy while also supporting green power to North Carolina school districts, the company said in a June 25 news release. 

The utility's residential and small business customers can pay $3 extra per month through Renewable Advantage to expand the amount of renewable energy Duke's grid, the company said in the news release. The $3 fee covers blocks of 250 kilowatt-hours of power, with the typical non-business customer using approximately 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month. Customers can purchase multiple blocks. 

“More than half of Duke Energy’s generation in the Carolinas is carbon-free. But we know many customers want more,” Stephen De May, Duke Energy's North Carolina president, said in the news release. “Renewable Advantage gives them an easy option to customize their own energy mix.”

To support school districts, Duke Energy is using 50 cents from every $3 fee for the NC GreenPower's Solar+ program, which provides annual savings on districts' electric bills and also supports academic initiatives, the release reported. 

“We are now in the sixth year of our Solar+ Schools program, supporting 10 more schools in 2020," Vicky McCann, vice president of NC GreenPower, said in the news release. "It’s been a true honor to see firsthand the positive impact the educational projects are having on the students. Without donor support, our program wouldn’t be able to provide this opportunity to schools in our state. We are so grateful for all of our contributors.”